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Check our section “Panama at a Glance” or for general facts and figures for Panama. Time zone: Panama time is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and one hour ahead of Central American countries (if you are arriving from Costa Rica, remember to change your watch). Panama is the same time as USA Eastern Standard Time when US time is not adjusted for daylight savings; during USA daylight savings time, Panama equals US Central time. Electricity: mainly 110v - some 220v. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS All visitors require a valid passport and an onward/return ticket. Additional requirements vary according to nationality and are subject to change. You are recommended to check with a Panamanian Consulate or Embassy or ticketing agents for airlines that fly to Panama to obtain the most updated information. At the time of writing, nationals from the following countries do NOT REQUIRE any further documentation: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland and UK. Nationals from the following countries do REQUIRE a tourist card (US $5 –(US $5.00 with an expiration term of 30 days) or a tourist visa, available from Panamanian embassies and consulates, airlines serving Panama, border crossings, or at the international airport : Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Tobago, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela. Nationals from Chad, Ecuador, Egypt, Philippines, Peru, Dominican Republic and Thailand require tourist visas and should contact an embassy or consulate. If your country is not listed above, contact your nearest Panamanian Consulate or Embassy or the Panamanian Immigration office Tel: 507-227-1448 Fax: 507-227-1227 Upon entry, every visitor is given a stamp allowing him/her to remain in Panama as a tourist for 90 days. This may be extended by applying to an immigration office in Panama City, David or Chitre, which are the only offices that can issue an extension. But submission of extension petition must be filed before the end of the 30 days term as allowed according the tourist card. For information regarding Pensionado and other Residence Visas, 2nd Passports etc. click here You may enter Panama with 200 cigarettes and 3 bottles of liquor tax free. If you try to leave Panama with articles made from endangered species you may be severely punished. Please note: There is a US$20 departure tax when you leave Panama.
Panama is the land bridge between two continents and divides two oceans, making it a crossroads of the world. Each year hundreds of cruise ships transit a modern wonder of the world, the Panama Canal. International Airlines serving Panama include not only those from North and South America but also from Spain, Russia, Taiwan and Israel. The following cities in the USA are currently the main connection points for flights to and from Panama: Miami, Orlando, Houston, Newark, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Panama’s International Airport is Tocumen International Airport, 35 Kilometers from downtown Panama City. Panama’s national airline COPA flies to major cities in South America and cities in the USA in alliance with Continental Airlines. Land crossings are also possible from Costa Rica with border points at Paso Canoas, Sixaola/Guabito and Rio Sereno. However, there are no roads linking Panama and Colombia. Panama City is approximately 5000 km by road from the nearest US city Brownsville, Texas. However, the costs of insurance, fuel, permits, accommodations etc. usually amount to more than the cost of an airline ticket, so most visitors choose to fly and rent a car upon arrival in Panama. There are also charter flight services available, travelling from Canada and Italy, to some areas inside the Republic. Check with your travel agent or adviser. GETTING AROUND Airlines
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WHEN TO VISIT
MONEY MATTERS Currency
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MAJOR EVENTS
Carnaval (carnival) is one of the biggest celebrations over the four days preceding Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Music and dancing culminates in parades on Mardi Gras. Celebrations are biggest in Panama City, Penonome and Las Tablas. Semana Santa (Easter week) is celebrated throughout Panama. Religious processions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday are held in most communities. By law, alcoholic beverages are not sold from 12 noon on Thursday to 12 noon on Sunday, celebrations at the Villa de Los Santos, on the Península de Azuero are particulary famous. The Festival of the Black Christ at Portobelo on October 21 includes a parade of the famous life-size statue of the Black Christ, and attracts pilgrims from all over the country. From May through October runs the concerts season, organized by the National Association of Music. Classical music invades every month the National Theatre, featuring musicians and orchestras from around the world, from Tokyo to New York and Buenos Aires. Every two years, Panama houses the Book Fair where many publishing houses from all over the world exhibit their new products and support various cultural activities. The country is visited by several famous writers, who share their impressions with the public and dictate conferences. It is an event organized by the Book Chamber, with the support of government. Other interesting events are: Panama Fairs
National Fairs
Source: Tourism Authority of Panama. WHAT TO SEE AND DO The Panama Canal at 80 km long is one of the modern wonders of the world. A visit to the Miraflores Locks and visitors center is a must see. Travel agencies can arrange boat trips on Gatun Lake with its island wildlife and good fishing, and a transit of the canal - once-in-a-lifetime experience! Don’t miss the graceful lines of the Bridge of the Americas. You can also take a "Safari" style tour to visit the areas adjacent to the Canal and its banks, with interesting activities such as observation of wildlife in Lake Gatun. There are safe areas for diving, snorkelling, kayaking or just swimming at your leisure, while admiring one of beautiful and small waterfalls. Despite the high rise buildings and a skyline reminiscent of Hong Kong, with bright lights and commercial centers, Panama City is the only city in the world that has a tropical rain forest within its city limits. Its beaches and harbor are beautiful, especially at sunset, and views from the palm-lined Amador Causeway with its elegant restaurants, superb. The history of Panama City can be traced through its origins in Panama La Vieja, supposedly sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan, and “neuva Panama” now known as Casco Viejo. Take trips to the interior for highland springtime in the mountains of El Valle or Chiriqui, Click here for more information for these beautiful areas. Climb Panama’s highest point, the extinct volcano of Volcan Baru. Visit dairy, coffee, flower, and vegetable farms in the bread-basket province of Chiriqui. River rafting is at its best here, together with hiking, climbing and bird watching. Visit the beautiful beaches of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, or the Pearl Islands, Bocas del Toro and San Blas: for more information Click here . No wonder these areas have been chosen by twelve countries for their television programs “Survivor”. The biodiversity and the geographical location of Panama on its land bridge (only 50 km. wide at its narrowest) have lead to an incredible variety of plant and animal life. Wilderness regions including rainforests and cloud forests Click here in designated national parks. Panama is home to 940 recorded species of birds and includes habitats for 125 animal species found nowhere else in the world. With 1518 islands and 2988 km of coast line, there is plenty of space for water sports. Deep sea fishing is world class. In marine parks on both coasts reefs are found where diving and snorkeling are rewarding experiences. Surfing and whale watching are also popular. One of the hottest new attractions is Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, a special area for observing wildlife which is managed by the Avifauna Eugene Eisenmann Foundation, founded in 2000 honouring the ornithologist of the same name. Its main attractions are the Visitors Center, the Observation Tower, and trails system within the forest, which is approximately 1 km. From the center you can photograph birds as orioles, weaving their nests on a “Higueron Tree”, as well as monkeys and other animals. The center has experienced guides, a souvenir shop and restrooms. It is opened around 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. accepting a maximum of 25 people only, given the fact that this is the time when animals and birds are most active. The objective is to minimize the impact on wildlife and their habitat. Between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. availability increases to 50 visitors. WHAT TO BUY Souvenirs from Panama do not usually include the Panama hat – these are usually made in Ecuador, despite being made famous by the balding Ferdinand de Lesseps when he was building the first canal. There are finely woven straw hats from Panama can be found in the towns of Ocu and Penonome. Duty free items may be purchased in the Duty Free Zone of Colon. However, outlets in Panama City can arrange to send an item from the Zona Libre directly to the airport where you can collect it when leaving the country. Handicrafts include the brightly colored molas, a multilayered textile sewn by Kuna Indian women. The Wounaan and Embera Indians make baskets woven so tightly that they will hold water. They also make wood and tagua carvings. Tagua is a nut commonly known as vegetable ivory. Replicas of Huacas – traditional objects made before the arrival of the Spanish that probably convey religious or spiritual meanings, these can be purchased in various materials from gold to clay. In addition to handcrafted souvenirs, Panama is developing an interesting art market, boosted by the production of paintings, sculptures and other manifestations of visual artists from Latin America, Europe and the United States. Prestigious art galleries and specialists can provide you with the information you need to have access to the best of art, being offered in the capital. Every two years, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) sponsors the Art Biennale, where Panamanian artists and others coming from different countries are actively involved. Next Biennale will take place in 2010.
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IIf you are a business traveler, your business may dictate the time of your visit, but if you do have a choice you should be aware that Panama has two main seasons. The drier summer season is the main tourist season and runs from December to April. The rainier season is from the May to November. This is particularly true for the Pacific southern part of Panama. Panama has a tropical climate and in this area long periods of rain are rare. Heavy downpours followed by sunshine are more usual. On the Caribbean side, the rain is more general but less during February/March and September/October. Darien is the wettest part of Panama. Temperatures are typically hot in the lowlands and beach areas, (21 to 32 degrees centigrade) and cooler in the mountain areas (10 to 18 degrees centigrade). Panama lies below the hurricane belt. Growing international interest in Panama as a tourist destination has extended the length of tourist season.